Photo courtesy of Marianists

The Marianist Family Retreatants make funny faces for the camera in the Mystical Rose Oratory.

Family retreat program expands to parishes

Eight families attending the Marianist Family Retreat, Jan. 23-24, on the Chaminade/Saint Louis Campus participated in age-appropriate activities for children and parents as well as whole family activities.

Nearly 50 retreatants, and a team made up of several members of the Marianist Lay Communities, enjoyed puppet shows, discussions, mime, games, crafts, prayer and food. The team was deeply gratified by the glowing responses of both parents and children.

The program will expand soon as the Marianist Lay Communities offers the retreat to St. Rita Parish in Nanakuli. The parish will use the retreat as part of the preparation for families of children making their First Communion. About 20 families have signed up.

The Marianist Lay Communities hopes to make this retreat more widely available to vicariates and parishes by working with parish volunteers to establish local Marianist Family Retreat Teams.